Meta Begins Blocking News Access on its Platforms in Canada
Meta, the parent company of social media giants Facebook and Instagram, has taken steps to comply with recently passed legislation in Canada that requires tech companies to negotiate payments to news organizations for hosting their content. In response to this new law, Meta has started removing news content from its platforms in Canada.
Canadian users of Facebook and Instagram will no longer be able to click on links to news articles as a result of this move. The changes were initiated on Tuesday and will be implemented gradually over the next few weeks, according to Meta spokesperson Andy Stone.
The decision by Meta comes amid a global debate surrounding the relationship between news organizations and social media companies, particularly regarding the value of news content and who benefits from it. Google has also announced its plan to remove news content from its platforms in Canada once the law takes effect, which could occur by December.
The Canadian legislation, known as Bill C-18, was approved in June with the aim of supporting the sustainability of news organizations by regulating digital news intermediaries and promoting fairness in the Canadian digital news marketplace.
Similar proposals have been introduced worldwide, as there have been concerns that the tech industry’s dominance has led to a decline in local journalism due to the redirection of advertising revenues online.
In response to the Canadian legislation, Meta expressed its viewpoint in a blog post, stating that the legislation misrepresents the value news outlets receive from using their platforms. They argue that news outlets voluntarily share content on Facebook and Instagram to reach wider audiences and improve their financial standing.
While Canadian users will no longer have access to news content through Meta’s platforms, they can still access news by visiting news outlets’ websites directly or subscribing to their apps and services. The debate over the relationship between tech companies and news organizations continues to unfold globally, with various countries exploring different approaches to address the challenges faced by the media industry in the digital age.
